BRYN MAWR, PA. - In honor and respect of the continuing presence of Lenape people in their homeland and throughout the Lenape diaspora, the Bryn Mawr College Athletics Department pays respect to Lenape people past, present, and future.

Who was here in the Americas before Europeans sponsored the "exploration" of the Americas?

Indigenous Peoples' Day

For decades, the United States has federally recognized and annually celebrated Columbus Day, choosing not to acknowledge the original peoples inhabiting the Americas and the European colonization that followed Christopher Columbus' landing in 1492. South Dakota was the first state to honor reality by replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day in 1989. Similarly, in the hope of replacing Columbus Day, the city of Berkeley enacted Indigenous Peoples' Day in 1992, making California the second state to observe the holiday. Although Indigenous Peoples' Day is not yet federally recognized, the Biden Administration publicly acknowledged the holiday and its significance, starting in October of 2021, with a proclamation to the country.

Indigenous Peoples' Day is not just a day of celebration but a time to honor American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians' cultures, contributions, histories, and originality to the Americas. Recognizing the varying peoples indigenous to the Americas, we are collectively, as a Nation, promoting a more accurate and respectful portrayal of Indigenous history. A history full of resilience and endurance not portrayed through the current celebration of Columbus Day. 

The holiday additionally serves as an opportunity for education and reflection on Indigenous peoples' culture and ongoing challenges, such as obtaining state and federal recognition of various Native American nations. While many cities and states across the United States have gradually adopted Indigenous Peoples' Day as an official holiday, some even replacing Columbus Day, the social progress for Indigenous Americans continues. 

The history and significance of Lacrosse

In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day and the celebration of Native American culture this October 9th, Bryn Mawr College Lacrosse recognizes the cultural and spiritual significance of the game of Lacrosse by wearing purple. The color purple originates from the Wampum belt of the Iroquois people, officially known as the Haudenosaunee. 

Originating from the Atlantic Ocean, white and purple mollusk shells were harvested and shaped into beads by the Narragansett, trading and finding their way into the hands of the Haudenosaunee. From there, the beads were constructed into Wampum belts to symbolize unity between the five nations: the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk. This belt, specifically known as the Hiawatha Belt, displays harmony through peace, power, and righteousness necessary to unite them. Representing all five nations, the Hiawatha belt became the national belt of the Haudenosaunee, with white and purple as a natural symbol of unity.

Originating from the Haudenosaunee creation story, lacrosse was adopted to serve many purposes, including healing ceremonies (medicine game), making peace, and strengthening community ties, always acting as a game of fun. Every aspect of the stick comes from mother nature – the shaft from a hickory tree and the net from deer sinew. From the equipment, to the freedom of play, the game represents a connection to the Earth and all people.

Lacrosse in the modern-day

Although it was more often used as a medicine game to heal through community, it was seldom used as a game to settle disputes between nations concerning land or resources. Lacrosse games prevented the bloodshed caused by war and instead permitted the cuts and occasional broken bones we can see in a modern game. Just as the wampum belt displays, relationships between nations were unified, just as the game can do for individuals. 

In Lacrosse, conflicts can arise on any occasion – on the field or off the field, between players or between teams. But the game naturally unites individuals through teamwork. Bryn Mawr Colleges Lacrosse Head Coach Shannon Algeo occasionally encounters disputes among players, as it's a competitive and group sport. When these occur within the team, she utilizes "the 'curiosity' mindset" because, in the past, "it prevented and minimized countless disputes by creating a line of communication." 

Coach Algeo encourages "players to get curious before getting upset or angry." Saying, "We should never assume anything about someone's behavior without knowing the full story. The only way to know the full story is to communicate with them… [because] when we make assumptions instead of getting curious, small problems escalate into big ones very quickly. Instead of providing support to people when they need it, we may become standoffish or rude, and this toxic behavior becomes a vicious cycle." We are inherently curious, and it can sometimes get the best of us. Still, just as it is in the everyday and as the Haudenosaunee creation story shares, it's essential to remember our connection to others and nature. 

Indigenous Peoples' Day acts as a time for reflection, education, understanding, and appreciation. As we celebrate the holiday, let us remember the cultural and spiritual significance of the game of Lacrosse and its teachings of teamwork, communication, and respect. Let us not forget the purpose of the Wampum belts and the unity they encapsulate between people and nations.

For more information on the history and meaning behind Lacrosse:

Roots: Exploring the History of Lacrosse

The History of Lacrosse | Honoring the Native American Heritage